System and Methods for Disclosing Call Destination Characteristic

1. A system for use by a caller placing a call with a calling device over a communications network linking a plurality of call destinations, the system comprising: a call-destination information source containing at least one call-destination characteristic associated with at least one of the call destinations, wherein the call-destination information source includes data provided by a third party; a processing unit communicatively linked to the call-destination information source, the processing unit configured for: prior to establishing the call between the caller and the at least one of the call destinations by attempting to connect the calling device with the at least one of call destinations, generating at least one call-destination characteristic indicator based on the at least one call-destination characteristic in response to a received call-destination identifier identifying the at least one call destination, providing the call-destination characteristic indicator to the caller based upon a predetermined criterion, prompting the caller with an opportunity to delay the establishing of the call, and allowing the establishing of the call to proceed automatically unless the caller delays the establishing of the call, wherein the call-destination characteristic indicator comprises a non-speech audible indicator indicative of the at least one call-destination characteristic and wherein the at least one call-destination characteristic is based on a reputation of an entity associated with the at least one call destination.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the call-destination information source comprises an updatable database that is updated in response to feedback supplied by the caller.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising an additional processing unit communicatively linked to the updatable database, the additional processing unit having a machine-learning capability for updating the at least one call-destination characteristic by applying an adaptive learning algorithm applied to user-supplied feedback.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the additional processing unit computes a probability-based confidence level of the reputation on which the at least one call-destination characteristic is based.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the call-destination information source comprises an updatable database that is updated in response to calling patterns with respect to the call destination.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising an additional processing unit communicatively linked to the updatable database, the additional processing unit having a machine-learning capability for updating the at least one call-destination characteristic by applying an adaptive learning algorithm applied to calling patterns with respect to the at least one call destination.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the calling patterns comprise at least one of frequency of calls and durations of calls placed to the at least one call destination.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one call-destination characteristic is based on a type of calling device used to handle calls placed from and received at the call destination.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor generates the call-destination indicator in response to at least one of a call placed to the calling device from the call destination and a call placed to the call destination with the calling device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor determines whether to provide the call-destination indicator to the caller based on at least one of a predetermined caller preference, a caller class of service, a regulatory requirement, a reputation history of an entity associated with the at least one call destination, and a caller-selected control variable.

11. A method of providing call-destination information to a caller placing a call with a calling device over a communications network, the method comprising: receiving a call-destination identifier identifying a call destination; determining at least one call-destination characteristic associated with the call destination responsive to a call-destination information source including data provided by a third party; prior to establishing the call between the caller and the call destination by attempting to connect the calling device with the call destination, generating a call-destination characteristic indicator based on the at least one call-destination characteristic, providing the call-destination characteristic indicator to the caller based upon a predetermined criterion, prompting the caller with an opportunity for the caller to delay the establishing of the call, and allowing the establishing of the call to proceed automatically unless the caller delays the establishing of the call, wherein the call-destination characteristic indicator comprises a non-speech audible indicator indicative of the at least one call-destination characteristic and wherein the at least one call-destination characteristic is based on at least one of a reputation of an entity associated with the at least one call destination, calling patterns with respect to the call destination, and a type of calling device used to handle calls placed from and received at the call destination.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising updating the at least one call-destination characteristic based on caller-supplied feedback.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of updating comprises applying a machine-learning algorithm to the caller-supplied feedback.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining whether to provide the characteristic indicator to a caller placing a call to the call destination, the determination being based upon a predetermined criterion.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising: enrolling at least one subscriber in a voluntary reputation service; receiving a call indicator indicating a call placed by a caller to the at least one subscriber; and determining a reputation indicator of the at least one subscriber.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving a call indicator associated with a non-subscriber, and providing a non-subscriber indicator to the caller.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of determining a reputation indicator comprises at least one of accessing a database of complaints filed with a third-party entity.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving a feedback from the caller.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of determining a reputation indicator comprises determining at least one of a frequency of call and a duration of calls placed to the subscriber during a predetermined time period.